Electrical connecter



Sept. 17, 1929. P. F. WILLIAMS ELECTRICAL CONNECTER Filed June 17. 1922Patented Sept. 17, 1929 PATENT OFFICE PAUL WILLIAMS, OF CHICAGO,ILLINOIS EIIECTRIGAL Application filed June 17,

My invention relates to electrical connecters, particularly of the typecommonly known as potheads.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a simple,practical andadvantageous construction of device of the class specified.

Another object of the invention is to simplify and improve theconnecting devices for connecting the electrical conductors,particularly in a pothead 'device in which there are three tubularinsulating members arranged in tandem fashion, the middle one of whichis moved relatively to the other two in order to secure together andseparate said connecting devices.

Other objects of the invention are to improve such type of potheadconstruction generally.

In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section of apothead device of the aforesaid variety embodying my present invention;

Figs. 2, 3 and 4 are cross sections taken respectively on lines 22, 33and 4-4 in Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, I show a pothead device having a lowertubular member 1,

an intermediate cap-like tubular member 2 and an upper cap member 3, allof said members'being preferably made of insulating material such asporcelain.

The lower member 1 is to receive a cable to be connected. Neither thecable itself nor the lower part of the member 1 is shown, as

- the same are well known constructions. The conductor of the cable isshown however, being indicated at 4 and being extended up to nearly theupper end of the member 1 and inserted into the recess in a socketcontact member 5 which is arranged at the upper end of member 1. Theother member to be connected is indicated at 6 and extends to the capmember 3, where its conductor 7 is inserted in the socket or recess in acontact member 8 carried by said capmember 3. The intermediate member 2contains a third contact member 9 which serves as a connection betweenmembers 5 and 8, as will be more fully explained.

The member 5 is hel'din position in the arranged on extension 5, andserve as lock CONNECTER 1922. Serial No. 569,055.

nuts therefor. Rotary movement of member 5 relatively to collar 10 islimited by projections 10 on collar 10 and projections 5 on member 5(Fig. 4).

Member 5' has a threaded socket into which the reduced threaded end 9 ofmember 9 may be screwed. This threaded end 9 may be adjusted in thethreaded socket of extension 5 by turning it relatively to the latter,which turning movement may be accomplished by means of the intermediatemember 2. To this end member 9 is provided with outwardly projectingears or lugs 17 (Figs. 1 and 2) and member 2 with recesses 18, intowhich lugs or wings 17 may fit, so that member 2 will act on wings orprojections 17 and rotate member 9. Rotation of member 9 by member 2will screw extension 9 into threaded socket of extension 5, anddownwardly to such an extent that bottom of extension 9 will strikeagainst bottom on threaded socket of extension 5*, and thus form a goodmechanical joint and good electrical contact, member 5 being held topermit such in-screwing of member 9 by projections 5 and 10.

Member 9 has its upper end provided with a threaded socket 20, intowhich fits a threaded plug member 21 secured to and preferably formedintegrally with the contact member 8 carried by cap 3. Upper end ofmember 21 is preferably made square at 21 to prevent turning in cap 3.Threaded washers 22 and 23 are fitted over threaded member 21 and holdthe same and terminal 8 firmly in position in cap member 3. The threadsof members 21 and 9 are of difierent kind, that is one, as 21, is lefthanded and the other, as 9", is right handed. Hence the rotation of themember 9 by member 2 in one direction will screw member 9 down inthreaded 100 socket 5 and will also screw member 9 upwardly on member21, thereby in effect screwin'g member 21 down in socket 20, as a resultof which turning movement in this one direction will screw both members9 and 21 into their threaded sockets, and thereby make firm mechanicaland good electrical contact. Conversely, rotation of member 2 in theopposite direction will in eifect screw members 9 and 21 out of theirthreaded sockets.

Thus it will be seen that connection may be made by first cementingcollar 10 in position in member 1 and then passing member 5 up throughit, cable conductor 4 having previously been secured in socket member 5as by soldering. Washers 15 and 16 are then fitted over 5 to hold samein position. Member 2 is then mounted on member 1 and threaded end 9"screwed into socket 5". Conductor 7 of wire 6 is secured to terminal 8,as by soldering, and then plug member 21 is screwed into socket 20.Intermediate insulatin member 2 is then rotated so as to turn member 9and thereby in effect screw threadwhich the spark takes place in casethere is a spark when the circuit is opened by the separation of contactmembers 9 and 5. By making these spark contacts removable, they can bereadily replaced when worn or torn by sparks and by making them separatefrom the main contacts 9 and 5, they may be replaced at very littleexpense. The sparking will obviously take place between the lower end ofmember 25 and the upper end or head of member 26 when those members areabout opposite and separating from one another, at which timethe members9 and 5*.are also separating from one another. To replace the members 25and 26 or either one of them when they become worn or used, either oneor both are screwed out of their respective sockets and otherssubstituted.

It will be understood that changes and modifications may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim is:

1. The combination of end and interme-.

diate members whereof the end members are provided with conductorterminals and the intermediate member with a connecting member forconnecting said terminals, and means for taking up a spark at break,said means comprising members detachably mounted on said terminals.

2. The combination of end and intermediate members whereof the endmembers are provided with conductor terminals and the intermediatemember with a connecting member for connecting said terminals, and meansfor taking up a spark at break, saidmeans comprising members detachablymounted on said terminals, one of said members having screw threadedconnection with one of said terminals and the other having threadedconnection with the other terminal.

3. The combination of end and intermediate members whereof the endmembers are provided with conductor terminals and the intermediatemember with a connecting member for connecting said terminals, and meansfor taking up a spark at break, said means comprising members detachablymounted on said terminals, one of said members being tubular and theother being a pin adapted to fit into said tubular member.

4. The combination of end and intermediate members whereof the endmembers are provided with-conductor terminals and the intermediatemember with a connecting memher for connecting said terminals, and meansfor taking up a spark at break, said means comprising members detachablymounted on said terminals, one of said members being tubular and theother being a pin adapted to fit into said tubular member, said tubularmembers having a threaded connection with one terminal and passingthrough the connecting member and the other of said members having athreaded connection with the other terminal and fitting into a recess inthe first mentioned member.

5. A device of the class specified comprising end and intermediate outermembers, contact terminals for the conductors arranged within andcarried by the end members and a connecting device for connecting saidterminals, said connecting device bein connected with the intermediatemember For operation thereby, and said connecting device and terminalshaving means for making end contact with one another, said terminals andcon necting device having screw threaded connection with one another andbeing provided with transverse abutments a ainst which the same may besecured to ma e said end contacts, one of the terminals having athreaded plug portion and the other having a threaded socket portion andthe connecting device having a threaded socket to receive said threadedterminal portion and having a bottom against which the same may makecontact, and said connecting device also having a threaded plug portionto fit into the threaded socket portion of said other terminal and alsohaving abutments against which the end of said terminal may make contactwhen said connecting device and terminal are secured together.

\ llie oonnlo a conductor ten inein oei? 9 enter rounding said I ninelseio leer anal sei l teiininel been i cooperating projections in ofrotary movement on the part oi mine o '31 The combination of en onite" eoonilneboi" terminal therein, and member Within the outer menil'ier e nso rounding seiol terminal, seicl enn oer enol seiol 'teiininel loeingprovideo cooperating projections limiting the ezl of rotary movement onthe pen-l", of minnl, the enol portion of seicl be ing threaded andthreaded washers engaging seiol threacleol portion of line 'leri'ninelnn& also engaging seidl annular member hold seiol terminal firmly inposition;

lln Witness whereof, ll hereunto snbseiilse my name this 12th day ofMay, A. D. 192.

PAUL F.

